The Dhanuks who are settled in northern India are either low caste or a minority indigenous people. Dhanuks are also called Rajbanshis. Smaller groups of Dhanuks are found in Bangladesh and Nepal. The main language of the Dhanuks is Hindi.
The language and culture of the Dhanuks are similar to the Tharus. The Dhanuks, like Tharus, are employed by landlords and well-to-do persons in private households and farms. Dhanuks do not marry within the clan nor do they have the practice of cross-cousin marriage. In most cases the parents seek a spouse for their child. Due to the influence of neighbors they also have the dowry system which involves the bride's family bringing a certain amount of wealth into the new family or to the groom's family. Those who do not abide by rules are expelled from the ethnic group. Mandal, Mahato and Kurmi are the names of their clans. Since the Dhanuks dwell in the river basins and the edges of forests, they fish and raise livestock. Some Dhanuks are even big landowners while others are landless. Many earn their livelihood by working as agriculture laborers and household servants. The houses of Dhanuks are plastered with mud.
Almost all Dhanuk practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain "moksha" or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Dhanuk visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Dhanuk people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. In some places Brahmins are appointed as priests while in other places they use their own priests. They are divided into two groups in terms of religion:those who worship the Hindu goddess Kali are called Kaliyaha and others are called Maharkhiya. Those who worship Kali eat pork and drink alcohol, whereas Maharkhiyas do not do so. They also worship a goddess called Gahil, who is one of five sisters. Their other goddesses are Shitalmata and Goureya Gaiya. Like other tribes they have their own rites of birth, death and marriage. The pregnant woman is kept in a separate home to arrange assistance from a midwife of the Chamar community. They believe they drive ghosts away by putting the branches of jujube and unwanted shoes at the main gate of the house. They give the newborn baby goat milk to drink. Dhanuks believe in magic, witchcraft and ghosts. Today there are several churches and a number of believers among them.
The Hindu Dhanuk people need to go through the narrow gate that Jesus offers His followers. The Dhanuk would benefit from new job skills and access to modern medicine.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Dhanuk people a willingness to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Dhanuk people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Dhanuk people to tell them about Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Dhanuk in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-09-28 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-09-22 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2013-08-08 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-02-08 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-09-01 |
People Name General | Dhanuk |
People Name in Country | Dhanuk |
Pronunciation | dah-NOOK |
Alternate Names | Dhakna Rajput; Dhanak; Dhanak Julaha; Dhankia; Harijan; Jamadar; Julaha; Kabirpanthi; Kurmi; Mahatroji; Mandalji Mahatoji; Mandatji; Methur; Patel; धानुक |
Population this Country | 5,035,000 |
Population all Countries | 5,294,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 101 |
People ID | 16696 |
ROP3 Code | 111925 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
|
|||||||||||||||
Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 17 |
Bihar 2,895,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 767,000 | |
Haryana 660,000 | |
Rajasthan 134,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 124,000 | |
Punjab 103,000 | |
Delhi 90,000 | |
Jharkhand 77,000 | |
West Bengal 71,000 | |
Odisha 30,000 | |
Chandigarh 3,400 | |
Uttarakhand 1,700 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 600 | |
Tripura 400 | |
Chhattisgarh 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.05 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.76 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.19 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (2,767,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (2,767,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 24 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Maithili 335,000 | |
Bhojpuri 310,000 | |
Angika 163,000 | |
Kanauji 114,000 | |
Haryanvi 96,000 | |
Awadhi 86,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 84,000 | |
Magahi 71,000 | |
Bengali 63,000 | |
Bagri 40,000 | |
Odia 24,000 | |
Marwari 22,000 | |
Shekhawati 17,000 | |
Bundeli 13,000 | |
Dhundari 2,500 | |
People Groups | Speaking Hindi |
Primary Language: Hindi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1806-1962) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1818-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |